Devon Call Change Ringing at Purton, Wiltshire

Filmed Saturday 13th October 2018, when Scott Adams (Bellr1nger) and his Devon call-change band visited Swindon Branch for a day of ringing. The team were a pleasure to host, and I was very pleased to be able to join in with some of their ringing as well.

Purton was our first tower. While undoubtedly glorious in their own way, they are a very strange ring of bells, and a real handful too. The heavy six were augmented by Taylor’s in 1989, and the two new trebles blend in well; they work well as an eight. However, a mixed bag of founders, strange weight gradients, long draught and big-going back bells make for a real heave! You will also spot that the sixth bell is just a tiny bit oddstruck! Cast by Joseph Carter of Reading in 1598, it is thought to be the largest bell he cast. The tenor, cast by Abel Rudhall, is a comparatively light bell for its note, and the jump in weight from the 4th (8-0-21) to the 5th (14-2-0) is most unusual; the back bells are all tenors in their own right, with little jump in weight between them! A rewarding ring, but certainly no pushover!

The church itself is a super building, and one of only three churches in England to have both a western tower and a central spire (Wanborough and Ormskirk being the others). The spire dates from the 14th century, and the tower from the 15th.

Tenor 20-0-14 in C#

[chriswilson]

Lord God, Billy Bob. I've heard change ringing before, but these folks seem to be challenging dimensional boundaries with their harmonics. I wouldn't be at all surprised if unexpected metaphysical manifestations followed them home. I wish there were some opportunities for learning change-ringing where I live, only hain't no bells.

[falcons]

I could listen to queens at 3:00 all day. Beautiful striking on a beautifully sounding change.

[Bellrnger]

Great video Simon. Thanks again for all your hospitality. It was a day to remember.

[infinitetrinity]

How in the world did you do this??? It was Beautiful!!! Thank you so much!!! My mind is blown away!!!🤔😳😘💜

[ianjamesian]

Wish the video could be shown in full and not keep cutting out with photos would be nice to of seen a video hearing all the changes being rung

[irenec]

At Pulborough the 7 (G#) is 7cwt and the Tenor (8 F#) is 14cwt. Massive jump there

[EngPheniks]

3:23 - "Ah! Christmas socks" 🕺🏻🧦🧸

[jamesperry]

Isn't it really risky to have your wrist through the tail? Unlikely I know, but what happens if you have a bad ring and break the stay. I know someone who was ringing somewhere new and the stay broke on him.

[petergraves]

The first minute sounded cacophonous. It sounded as the bells were hanging down at rest and had to be first brought up. Otherwise = a glorious sound. Or - more appropriately = sounds. I used to do the same ringing at All Saints, Parramatta (Sydney, Australia).

[nord]

Who’s the bit of totty on the 2 not keeping her hands together at backstroke?

[BigBobTheNewBellRinger]

Can anyone explain to a new bell ringer why there are so many things that these guys do which is against the "best practice" technique? Hands apart, slipping the hand down the rope at back stroke, hand through the loop etc. All these things "wrong" yet they are considered some of the best in the business!

[Ben-ujqk]

Nice raise up. Just fire it at the start!

[NoTengoIdeaGuey]

Can't imagine what happens if you start to mess up in the middle, just shrug and say, I guess I'll try harder tomorrow.

[dloidean]

Remembering Connie Black Engle, our Angell